Previous Out-of-Pocket Drug Expenditures and Patterns of Antidepressant Use among Workers Receiving Depression-Related Disability Benefits.

This study explored the effects of out-of-pocket expenditures on antidepressant use among workers receiving depression-related short-term disability benefits. The authors examine the association between workers' out-of-pocket expenditures prior to their disability episode and their use, or delay in use, of antidepressants during the episode. The results indicate that higher out-of-pocket expenditures for antidepressants prior to the disability episode were associated with higher odds of using an antidepressant during the episode. However, results also suggested that higher out-of-pocket expenditures for other prescriptions were associated with significantly lower odds of an antidepressant claim during the episode. Greater prior out-of-pocket expenditures for other prescription drugs may serve as a barrier to accessing antidepressant treatment. Workers receiving short-term disability benefits who have previously purchased prescriptions for other conditions may be more sensitive to out-of-pocket expenditures for antidepressant prescriptions.